Author: obrownlee

Here is the latest in a series of articles I have been writing for Thriving & Striving Magazine, an online periodical for all alook of folks looking to imptheir and richer their lives through travel, food and entertainment:

There is a very prominent discussion amongst today’s young professionals, that of wanting to make careers of their artforms.  I have personally challenged myself to intellectual games of badminton on this topic, since I have an unquenchable tendency towards various artforms, but the practical side of my conscience quails at the thought of a post-apocalyptic world overrun with artists who may be very happy and self-aware, but are clueless as to how to start a fire or build a cabinet or make a meal for more than ten people.  But this is the same voice that applauds friends who quit their cubicles to pursue an Etsy account, or a bicycle trip across America, or even just grass-cutting.

I have gotten the defense argument that if you vocationalize your artform you are dooming yourself to a burnt-out, bored, artform-loathing and impoverished-anyway decade or two before you go back to a “real job.”  Some say that you must be careful to separate what you love from what pays the bills.  I see sense in that. 

Sometimes I am ashamed that I am putting my primary energies toward an artform.  But most days, these days, I am just totally pumped.

I feel very accomplished when I spend a day making calls, writing emails and expanding my social network – it’s almost as grueling and satisfying as drywalling – and then if I can top it off by playing for three hours in a bar for utility money, I feel like I have done my job.  I go home and I get a good rest.  But there is also a megaton of sense in what my financial advisor said to me: “If you do good work one day, you can’t not work the next day.”  Now for a long time I took that to mean I gotta have a bill-paying job, do the music work as often as possible on the side, and hope for the best.  Folks, I don’t know about you, but when I get home from an eight-hour day that hasn’t much to do with music … I’m just plain exhausted.  I want food, I want sleep; I do Not want to follow up on eighteen phone calls to various pubs who can’t remember that I’ve called three times in the past week.  It wasn’t until recently that I accepted the fact that if I want to capital-m-Make something of one of my many interests, I have to commit.  Again, I speak only for myself – I know there are those out there who can pull 14-hour, double- or triple-job days and be perfectly functional ….  Not this girl.  Nope, the good work comes from doing it wholeheartedly.  And doing it again tomorrow even if I had a rotten time of it today – AND even if I had a hugely successful time of it today.

I still know how to build a fire, fix a cabinet and make a meal for ten people, but I feel less and less embarrassed about being a musician. How are you?

click to listen! –>   Rake   <–!netsil ot kcilc

I wrote something the other day and thought, “Well this is different…” And with the help of Jay Psaros and PB and Jay Records, made it into the different thing that it was. This is the unpolished version. What do you think?

Rakin’ up the coals, daddy, rakin’ up the coals

Cory Vallejo (Blind Ear Studios) ~ Recording/Mastering Mastermind

Charles Murphy (South Endustries) ~ Recording Mastermind on “It’s Always Washington” and “Mary’s Little Lamb”

Tony Cimino (Mojo Music Studio) ~ Recording Mastermind on the blues guitar and the folk organ solos (makemusicatmojo.com)

Becca Meredith (That Red Head) ~ Fully Operational Graphic Designer (www.that-redhead.com)

Rick Westrick ~ Jolliest Drummer in the Inland Northwest

Brian Flick ~ The Bassingest Bassist with the Baddest Assets

Pat Cantlon ~ Percussion, Sound, Nice Guy All-Round

Jay Psaros ~ Pluckin’ the Strings of His Guitar and My Heart (jaypsarosmusic.com)

Jamie Brown ~ Sawin’ Like a Sinner on Judgement Day

Michael McGinnis ~ Bard of my Childhood, Troubadour and Trouble-Laugher, Together with Others Who Shall Later Be Recognized. Thank you for lending me your song for this album.

Aaand…me.

Aaaand…you. ‘Cause without you it’d be pretty silly, really. I’d see less point in it, anyway.

Please enjoy.

Thank you for your support.

That’s right, the ball is rolling on the Second Album! The digital mastering of the music is all but complete, the artwork needs only a couple more tweaks, and your pre-purchasing of this project is helping to pay for its production! For those of you who have been waiting so patiently and trustingly, fear not: you are not forgotten, and your wait will soon be over…

To show what an agreeable side Spokane possesses, I have been allowed to showcase my noise at the Black Pearl Restaurant and Card Room in Spokane Valley! Meet me down there between 7 and 10pm for beverages, delicious eats, maybe even a game of poker! …Not to mention beautiful music to supplement your evening out!